Dear Parents and Guardians
The second term has drawn to a close in such a special manner with the holding of the Eisteddfod. This year’s event was slightly different, starting on Sunday, due to circumstances beyond our control, yet had a wonderfully positive consequence in that so many more parents, particularly fathers, were able to come to watch their son(s) perform. The campus was alive on Sunday, venues were full and performances enjoyed and appreciated. The Eisteddfod gallery of images will be shared later this week once everything has been collated and updated. Thank you for supporting the boys this year.
At the time of writing, we have yet to have the second day of Eisteddfod and the Inter-House singing, but based on what I saw on the first day, this promises to be a wonderful success. I am so grateful to Mr Mark Mitchell in particular, who leads a team of committed organisers, but to all staff involved in any manner at all, to all the boys who performed or were in the audience and to all parents who came to support – thank you!
Staff farewell
We bid farewell to Mr Alaric Hobbs, who has been teaching Visual Art part-time for the past four years. He has had a significant positive influence on so many boys and staff and leaves us to take up a full-time position at the Zeitz Mocaa.
Change to Code of Conduct (Vaping)
Random Drug Testing Policy
From next term we are broadening our Random Drug Testing programme to include testing for vaping. The boys were informed of this in April this year and again at assembly last Friday.
Our process with substance use and abuse is clear – the first time a boy tests positive for any banned substance, it is treated as a pastoral intervention, where we work closely with the boy and parents to help the boy with the decisions he is making. Boys in this position are then regularly tested over a number of months as part of the attempt to help change behaviour.
The second time a boy tests positive, however, the process moves from pastoral to disciplinary, and the consequences are then punitive by nature. I can assure you that the testing we do is 100% random, but roughly 15-20% of the school population will be tested each year. The programme is designed mainly to help boys make good choices and be able to say “no", when offered substances which are banned according to our School Rules and Code of Conduct.
Hair
Parents are kindly requested to ensure their son's hairstyle conforms with our Hair Policy. As usual at the start of a term boys whose hair does not meet requirements will be sent home and not permitted to come to school or represent the school until such time as they are compliant.
Grievance issue
This issue is still ongoing and we hope to report back to parents next term. While it has been a long time, the process has, in my mind, been scrupulously fair to both parties involved and we are hoping for a satisfactory outcome that not only addresses the issues involved properly but also allows our school community to move forward.
Closing thoughts
I, along with a number of Bishops colleagues in the College, Prep and Pre Prep, will be attending the International Boys Schools Coalition annual conference, hosted this year in South Africa at St Stithian’s Boys College. The IBSC is a wonderful organisation with singular focus on the education of boys and we are looking forward to both sharing with and learning from colleagues from around the world.
To those who are taking time off these next few weeks, I hope you rest well and enjoy these moments with your family and friends. If you are travelling, please be safe and look after yourselves!
My final thanks to all staff, boys and parents for their support this past term. While we may not always agree, there is mostly a respect of boundaries and for decision-making that is appreciated. We are, as the slogan says, “stronger together”
Kind regards
Antony Reeler
Principal
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